HomeAbout UsContact
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
    MENU
    • Start
      • Considering Homeschool
        • Why Homeschool?
        • Reasons for Homeschooling
        • History of Homeschooling
        • Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
        • The Advantages of Homeschooling Your Kids
        • Negative Effects of Homeschooling?
        • Homeschooling and Socialization
        • Famous Homeschoolers
        • Homeschooling Statistics Research
        • Homeschool Sports Opportunities
        • Homeschooling Requirements
        • Is Homeschool Testing Required and Necessary?
        • Homeschool High School
      • Homeschooling Styles
        • Traditional Homeschooling Programs
        • The Classical Homeschool Curriculum Approach
        • Independent Homeschool Programs and Homeschooling Curriculum Choices
        • Unschooling or Relaxed Homeschooling
        • Charlotte Mason Homeschool Teaching Method
        • Eclectic Homeschooling
        • Homeschool Umbrella School Opportunities
        • Unit Studies
        • Homeschool Online
        • Christian Homeschool Curriculum
      • Homeschool Affordability
        • How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
        • Is Cheap Homeschooling Possible?
        • Cost of Homeschooling VS Public School
        • Free Homeschool Worksheets
        • Free Reading Lists
        • Used Homeschool Curriculum
        • Homeschool Freebies
        • Homeschool Transcripts and Report Card Templates
      • Start Homeschooling
    • Reviews
          • Read Reviews
          • Submit a Review
    • By Subject
        • Art & Music
        • Christian
        • Complete
        • Computer-Based
        • Curriculum Supplement
        • Foreign Language
        • Grammar
        • Handwriting
        • History & Geography
        • Language Arts
        • Math
        • Online
        • Reading – Phonics
        • Science
        • Spelling
        • Unit Studies
    • By Grade
        • Preschool
        • Kindergarten
        • First Grade
        • Second Grade
        • Third Grade
        • Fourth Grade
        • Fifth Grade
        • Sixth Grade
        • Seventh Grade
        • Eighth Grade
        • High School
    • Free Worksheets
        • Math Worksheets
          • Algebra Help
          • Algebra Worksheet Generator
          • Printable Mathematics Activites
          • Basic Mathematics
          • Math Worksheets K-6
          • Multiplication Worksheets
          • Rick’s Math
          • Online Math Problem Generator
          • Free Printable Graph Paper in Various Sizes
        • Science Worksheets
          • Neuroscience for Kids
          • Printable Chemistry Activities
        • Language & Handwriting
          • Free Printable Handwriting Paper
          • Phonics
          • Printable Vocabulary Worksheets
        • Multisubject Printables
          • Free Printables
          • Learning Pages
          • Learning Puzzles
          • School Express
        • Other Homeschool Printables
          • Free Printable Reading Charts for Kids
          • Chart Jungle
          • Kindergarten Worksheets
    • Reading Lists
        • Children’s Classics
        • Kindergarten
        • 1st Grade
        • 2nd Grade
        • 3rd Grade
        • 4th Grade
        • 5th Grade
        • 6th Grade
        • 7th Grade
        • 8th Grade
        • 9th Grade
        • 10th Grade
        • 11th Grade
        • 12th Grade
    • Blog
        • Recent Posts

          • Native American Heritage Month Activities
          • Teaching Tech with Google Education
          • Three Best Sites for STEM Curriculum
          • Sleep well to perform more and better
          • How to Teach Thankfulness this Season

Recommended 3rd Grade Reading List

Home Recommended Reading Lists Recommended 3rd Grade Reading List

Fun-3rd-Grade-Reading-ListSecond grade introduced the concept of reading longer materials for fun. In third grade, students continue to expand their reading and writing skills. This year, there is an emphasis on learning about additional types of writing including poetry, fairy tales, folklore and more. By the end of the year, your child will understand how to find meaning in both fiction and non-fiction stories. This 3rd grade reading list is a great place to start.

A huge advantage of homeschooling is that you know your child’s likes and dislikes. This can help you select books from our reading list which your child will be interested in. The third grade reading curriculum is more about learning specific concepts than reading specific books. So you should have no problem finding a variety of reading material which your third grader will find interesting and engaging – but which you’ll also find educational.

An Overview of Third Grade Reading

Third grade is about exploring different types of reading materials. While second grade focused on chapter books, in third grade we expand upon these longer reading materials by introducing literary, informative and practical reading materials.

Third graders will learn the difference between fact and opinion. They’ll also learn how to infer main ideas across a variety of different types of prose. By the end of the third grade, students will have multiple reading strategies on how to construct meaning from text. Also, individual, silent reading will be a regular habit.

If there’s one idea you want your child to understand this year, it’s that reading is thinking. Third grade is the year you want your student to understand that reading is going to be a big part of their school lives for quite a while. The more reading they do, the easier school in general will be for years to come.

Reading Goals for Third Grade

Reading Comprehension

  • Familiar with literary, informational and practical texts
  • Familiar with poetry including the concepts of stanza and rhyme
  • Able to identity character traits
  • Basic understanding of simile and metaphor
  • Able to infer the moral lesson in fairy tales, fables, legends, myths, etc.
  • Able to compare literary selections to one another
  • Understands difference between fact and opinion in text

Qualities of a High Performing Third Grade Reader

  • Reads for extended periods of time to self
  • Reads for fun, information, education and more. (Reads for a variety of purposes.)
  • Reads a variety of topics
  • Has personal reactions to material read

Third Grade Reading Strategies

Throughout the third grade students will learn how to:

  • predict words using letter clusters, vowel patterns and more
  • understand unfamiliar words by sounding out words, using picture clues and context
  • use phonics to pronounce unfamiliar words
  • find smaller words within larger ones in order to determine meaning
  • use headings, italics and bold print in organizing documents
  • support ideas by referencing text
  • paraphrase information from a text
  • revise and edit their own original writing
  • increase vocabulary
  • improve ability to read aloud with confidence and clarity

Home Teaching Strategies for Third Grade

Teaching at home gives you an excellent opportunity to tailor your lesson plans to your child’s interests and needs. Every subject offers opportunities to involve some reading lessons, especially if you’re assigning written reports.

As a teacher you’ll want to incorporate the following into your lesson plans for third grade:

  1. Provide daily opportunities to read and evaluate both narrative and expository texts.
  2. Teach students how to examine ideas in texts.
  3. Provide opportunities for your child to express him or herself in writing.
  4. Emphasize correct spelling, grammar and form in written assignment.

Of course, you’re not just the teacher. You’re also the parent. This means you can find a way to sneak reading lessons into your child’s day-to-day activity. Some examples include:

  • Have your child help create the family grocery list. Then let them use their reading skills during shopping.
  • Visit the library and bookstores with your child. Make new books a reward for good behavior.
  • Read together at bedtime.
  • If your child seems interested, encourage them to write their own short stories (maybe even using their favorite fictional characters).
  • Involve reading and writing in other activities your child enjoys. For instance, if your child likes football, maybe spend some time together reading about famous players.

3rd Grade Reading List

Are you searching for a third grade reading list to supplement your child’s other studies? Here are some recommended books for third grade students.

We included a list of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and classic novels that you may even remember reading when you were younger. If you missed them as a kid, you may still enjoy them now.

Click on the story name link for a book description and reviews from Amazon if you want to learn more.

Folktales, Fairy Tales & Legends

These are good choices for teaching your student how to understand the messages behind a story. The themes of these classic tales are all very clear and easy for a third grader to understand. Plus, these include a lot of information about other cultures and history. Your child will learn to use reading as a way to enter other worlds.


Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada


Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella (Worldwide Stories) by Paul Fleischman


Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) by Virginia Hamilton


Wise Fool: Fables from the Islamic World by Shahrukh Husain


The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven by Ji-Li Jiang


Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling


The Blue Fairy Book (Dover Children’s Classics) by Andrew Lang


Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela


More Bones, Scary Stories From Around the World by Arielle North Olson


The Beautiful Stories of Life: Six Greeks Myths, Retold by Cynthia Rylant


Can You Guess My Name?: Traditional Tales Around the World by Judy Sierra


D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d’Aulaire with special video review below!

Other Reading Selections

You might recognize some of these titles. Quite a few classics on this list. You can enjoy these tales all over again as you read and discuss them with your child. Similar to the reading list above, these stories also have clear moral lessons appropriate for third graders.


Stuart Little by E.B. White

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl


The BFG by Roald Dahl

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Lincoln and His Boys by Rosemary Wells

Igraine The Brave by Cornelia Funke


Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall Saga Book 1) by Patricia MacLachlan


Skylark (Sarah, Plain and Tall Saga Book 2) by Patricia MacLachlan


Caleb’s Story (Sarah, Plain and Tall Saga Book 3) by Patricia MacLachlan


Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

The Twits by Roald Dahl

Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
along with a book review:

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine

Time Warp Trio Book Series by Jon Scieszka

Click here to see recommended books for other grade levels.

Conclusion

Third grade is a time to introduce your junior reader to the idea of moral lessons in stories. This then leads to the concept of learning about non-fiction topics by reading. As the third grader begins to understand how to retain knowledge from reading, all sorts of doors begin to open up. Third grade can be a fun time as your child learns to appreciate reading in a new, deeper way.

Just a note to let you know that we do not receive any compensation from publishers or authors for placement of any books listed here. However, we may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links.

4 Comments. Leave new

J
May 13, 2020 4:16 pm

Why is there a Danielle Steel romance novel recommended?? Also the Nightingale By Kristin Hannah is an Adult Novel with Adult themes. NOT the fairy tale. How did these two glaring mistakes even happen??

Reply
AnnMaria De Mars
May 18, 2020 6:14 pm

I don’t see a Danielle Steele novel – it must have been removed. I’m guessing this must be confused with another book called the Nightingale, although the Kristin Hannah one IS a great book, just not for third graders.

Reply
JV
August 18, 2021 10:10 am

I think those may have been ads catered to you as I don’t see them in the list but there are ads in there (my ads are for books I have been looking at online)

Reply
Christy Hanson
August 19, 2021 12:50 pm

Thank you for stopping by! Glad to have you as a visitor to our homeschooling site. Let us know if you have any questions.

My Google Chrome web add-on called Ghostery prevented me from seeing the targeted ads. If I enable the app to “trust” a website, then ads become visible. Using such an app could help hide any distracting ads.

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Curriculum Descriptions

Read Reviews

  • 7 Generation Games As a Homeschool Resource to Teach Math
  • Math Whizz for My Girls
  • Draw then Write
  • Vocabulary Spelling City is One of Our Favorites
  • Funtimes Tables! Fun Times Tables
  • K5 Learning as a Supplement for Homeschooling
  • Astute Hoot: Homeschool Games That Teach
(Read All Reviews)

© 2008 – 2018 Home Curriculum

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact

Get the ultimate guide to choosing homeschool curriculum! Enter your email below to gain instant access.mother and child doing science experiment

Yes, please! I want the free ULTIMATE GUIDE to homeschool curriculum!

lockWe hate SPAM too. We promise we won’t sell or share your email.